Tumbler identifying key reader



9, 1966 M- 5. ROLAND 3,264,742

TUMBLER IDENTIFYING KEY READER Filed April 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. v

9 22 1VAXG.HoLAA/D.

Aug. 9, 1966 M. G. ROLAND TUMBLER IDENTIFYING KEY READER 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed April 12, 1965 INVENTOR.

MAX 6120mm.

flflom/Ey United States Patent 3,264,742 TUMBLER IDENTIFYING KEY READERMax G. Roland, San Carlos, Califl, assignor to Maromatic Company, Inc.,Burliugame, Caliii, a corporation of California Filed Apr. 12, 1965,Ser. No. 447,435 4 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 378,314,filed June 26, 1964, now Patent No. 3,226,811, dated January 4, 1966,and entitled Tumbler Lock Pin Setting Machine, and is particularlydirected to that feature which involves the sensing and selection of thetumbler pins required for a particular lock cylinder for a key with aplurality of tumbler pin engaging bits.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of tumbler locks andmore particularly to a tumbler identifying and key sensing device fordetermining the character of the tumbler pins for a lock cylinder tomatch the bits of a key to be used therewith.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device fordetermining the lengths of the tumbler pins to be assembled in a lockcylinder for use with a particular key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key reader having visualindicating means for simultaneously indicating the character of any oneof a plurality of different tumbler pins for use in a multiple bit keycylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electro-mechanicaldevice for determining in an automatic manner the character of any oneof a plurality of pins to be employed in a tumbler lock cylinder by areading of the bits of a key to be used therewith.

Other objects and advantages will be in part evident to those skilled inthe art and in part pointed out hereinafter in the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein there isshown by way of illustration and not by limitation a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout theseveral views.

FIGURE 1, is a perspective view showing my inven tion as embodied in anenclosed portable unit.

FIGURE 2, is a side elevation of the key reading means,

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the device as shown in FIGURE 2, and 7 'FIGURE4 is a circuit diagram showing electrical connections as contemplated bythe invention.

In the manufacture of cylinder locks of the type contemplated, thepractice has become generally standardized in that the selection oftumbler pins involves pins often different lengths that are numericallyidentified as from zero to nine. Similarly the diameters of these pinsare also more or less standardized and range in diameters from 0.094" to0.115. The prevailing practice for door and like locks the keys have atotal of five bits, but in special cases the key may have six or morebits. Spacing of the bits upon the key will be determined by thediameters of the pins to be used therewith and this for a five bit keyis approximately of an inch. This series of bits must also. have adefinite location with respect to a shoulder or hilt formed upon the keyin order to insure a proper register with a complementary pin. In thecase of the glove compartment or trunk lock as practiced in theautomobile art, the locks may have a smaller number of tumbler pins forexample the glove compartment may require a key with only three bitswhile a trunk lock might require a four bit key.

In accordance with present procedure the individual keys are pre-cut andstamped with a series of numbers corresponding to the bits of theparticular key. These keys are then threaded upon a rod or wire forpresentation'at the cylinder lock loading station where the operatorwill insert into the lock cylinder a series of tumbler pinscorresponding with the numbering upon the key. After this the cylinderwith the tumbler pins and the particular key will be passed on for afurther assembly operation where the cylinder thus equipped with pinswill be inserted in the lock body where the driving pins and springswill be finally assembled into the lock. In this procedure with the keybits identified by stamped numbers, the experience and skill of theoperator is quite important. In other instances where the pre-cut keysare forwarded to the pin assembly station without bit identitfyingnumbers, the operator is then required through knowledge gained byexperience to select a proper pin for a particular key. When it isconsidered that there are some ten different pins from which thisselection must be made, it will be readily appreciated that extremeskill will be required. It is therefore a further and more particularobject of my present invention to provide a key reading means by whichthe bits of a particular key may be identified for numbering and/orrelated to a complementary tumbler pin for assembly into a tumbler lockcylinder.

For a more detailed description of the invention reference is now madeto the accompanying drawings where in FIGURE 1, I have shown myinvention as mounted within a portable cabinet 10 having a keyaccommodating slot l l at its front and five visual character indicatingdevices 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 upon which the characteristics of thedifferent tumbler pins for use with a particular five bit key areindicated and registered. While not shown it will be understood that anelectric source of power will be connected with the cabinet 10 from anysuitable source and for controlling this circuit there is an exposed OlFF-ON switch 17 that is mounted at a convenient point on the front of thecabinet 10.

Upon referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted thatexcept for the visual indicating registers 12, 13, 14, 15 and 1-6 andthe required circuit connections, my key sensing means consists of aunitary assembly which comprises a base 18 with a replaceable key slotcarrying member '19 into which the key slot 11 referred to hereinbeforeis formed. This member 19 will vary in accordance with the particulartype of key that is to be sensed and may carry operating pins or key bitengaging feelers '20 which in number and spacing will also conform withthe key in question. These operating pins 20 terminate at their lowerends within the key slot 11 and extend a sufiicient depth to engage withthe lowermost bit of a key. At their upper ends the bit engaging feelersor pins 20 engage surface plates 21 carried by contact carrying levers22 which correspond in number to the number of operating pins 20 carriedby the key slot carrying member 19. In this instance the device has fiveelectrical contact carrying levers 22 that are pivotally mounted at oneend upon anti-friction bearings 23 carried by a transversely extendingshaft 24. At their extending ends these levers 22 each have rtlexiblecontact engaging members 25 that are arranged in pairs to contact withopposite sides of a printed circuit carry-.

ing member 26 having a circuit with spaced contacts 27 and extendingline terminals v28 printed thereupon. To insure a proper alignment ofthe individual levers 22 with the printed circuit carrying members 26there is provided a number of spacing posts 29 between which theseseveral levers operate and for biasing these levers into their lowermostposition they each carry a tension spring 30 that is secured to atransversely extending rod 31 upon the base 18. As better shown FIGURE 3the base 18 also carries a microswitch 32 at the inner end of the keyaccommodating slot 121 which will be engaged by a key when insertedfully therein. It'willalso be noted that the; levers 22 are spaced attheir pivotal end in accordance. with the spacings of the tumbler pinsof a lock and at their outer free ends theyare spaced further apart toaccommodate the five printed circuit carrying members \26 which arefirmly positioned outwardly therefrom'and carried in a vertical plane bya supporting bracket 33% Reference is now made to FIGURE 4 of thedrawings.

for a description of the operation of the invention. In

this showing a bitted key 34 is inserted into :the slot 11 of the slotaccommodating member'19 and the operating 7 ing a key accommodating slotformed therein, a plurality i of circuit"cont-rolling levers mountedabove said slot, a

responding terminals of each of the visual character in dicatingregisters 12,-13, 14, 15 and 16; In this figure.

of the drawings only one such circuit'is indicated, but it is to beunderstood that in each of the other registers similar circuits will beinvolved. As here indicated the key has an arrangement of bits whichcall for a nine, a three, a six, a four and aneight tumbler pin in thelock cylinder with which the key is to be employed. As' a. source ofelectrical power I have shown a storage battery- 34, but it will beunderstood that any other source .of power as determined by thecharacter of they indicating registers 12 to 16 may be employed. Most ofthe registers now on the market operate on a low voltageDLC. current.ductor. 35 through the micro-switch 32 and a conductor 36 to a busconductor 37 that connects withterminals The battery 34 is connected atone side by a;con-= of the registers 12 to 16 inclusive. 7 At' theother. side of.

the battery there is a conductor 38 which connects with a busconductor39 that is connected to the pivotal ends to each of the contact-carryinglevers 22 or as an alternative and more simplified "form the conductor38 may ;be

grounded upon the lever supporting base 18.

With the above described equipment it will be seen that by inserting akey into thetkey slot 11 the order and char-' acter of pins to beinserted in a complementarydock cylinder will be clearly. indicated byregisters 12 to 16 1 and there then only remains for the operator toselect the.

indicated pins in their order from pre-selected groups of pins havingcharacteristics correspondingwith the pin identifying registers.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose myinvention so that the same can be readily understood, described andillustrated a specific form .and

arrangement, I desire to have it understood that this in- 1 vention isnot limited to the specific form disclosed, but may be embodied in otherways that will'suggest themselves to persons skilledin the arts It isbelieved that this invention is new and all such changes as come withinthe scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of thisinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. 'In a tumbler pin identifying means for a cylinder lock assembly thecombination of, a base member hav plurality of key bit engaging feelersprojecting into :said key accommodating slot and spacedto conform :withthe several bits of a key and operating to move said levers asdetermined by the engagedibits of the key, a visual character indicatingrneans associated with each of said pivotal lefvers, an electricalcircuit: for energizing said character iindicating .means havingconnections with a plurality of spaced stationarygcontacts, a .circuitcompleting contact wiper carried by eachtof saidlevers and engaging saidcont-acts one at a time as determined bythe bits of a key engaged bysaidfeelers, and a circuit controlling means for rendering saidcharacter indicating means operative onlywhen a keyis fully projectedintov the key accommodating slot of said base.

2 :In a tumbler identifying means: for a cylinder lock 1 assembly thecombination of, ajbase member having .a key accommodating slot formedtherein, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted above said slot,corresponding in number, and position to the bits-of a key andaplurality of key bit engaging pins projecting into said key accommodating slot and spaced to engage with the several bits of a keywhenprojected into said key accommodating slot, a visual characterindictaing means; associated with each of-said levers, electricalcircuits including a number ofspaced contacts: for energizingsaidcharacter indicat-, ingrneans, a contact engaging'means carried byeach of said levers and, engaging the spaced contacts of said electricalcircuits as determined by said key bit engaging pins,

and a power circuit controlling switch for rendering the circuits ofsaid character indicating means operative only .When a key isprojectedtully' into the key accommodating slot ofsaid base.

3. A'tumbler pin identifying key reader for a tumbler lock assemblyoperation tcornprising means having a t tumbler lock key accommodatingslot, a plurality of key bit engaging pinsextending to and exposed .atone edge of the key accommodating slot of said meansadapted and arrangedto=individually engage with the difierent bits of a key projected intosaid key accommodatingslot, independent lever meanst operated by eachiofsaid key bit engaging pins, electrical visual key bit indicating means,

circuits for said visual indicting means controlled by. each of saidlever means, and a power circuit controlling switch for rendering saidgvisual indicating means opera- --tive only when a key to be read isprojected fully into the key accommodating -slotof said first means.

4.' The invention as set forth inclaim 3 characterized. by-the factthatthe tumbler" lock .key accommodating slot ofsaid first means is carriedby a replaceablememher .to accommodate keys of different dimensions.

References Cited by the Examin'er UNITED STATES PATENTS 709,240 9/1902 IPhelps- 33-174 2,070,228 1 2/ 1937' Fitzgerald 33l74' 2,248,653 7/1941 JAllendorff .33172.X' 3,041,600 6/ 196 2 1 Gurnpertz; 340-324 X 3,103,0079/ 19-63. Gumpertz 340324 X LEONARD; FORMAN, 'Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL 'S." MATTHEWS, Examiner.

1. IN A TUMBLER PIN IDENTIFYING MEANS FOR A CYLINDER LOCK ASSEMBLY THECOMBINATION OF, A BASE MEMBER HAVING A KEY ACCOMMODATING SLOT FORMEDTHEREIN, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUIT CONTROLLING LEVERS MOUNTED ABOVE SAIDSLOT, A PLURALITY OF KEY BIT ENGAGING FEELERS PROJECTING INTO SAID KEYACCOMMODATING SLOT AND SPACED TO CONFORM WITH THE SEVERAL BITS OF A KEYAND OPERATING TO MOVE SAID LEVERS AS DETERMINED BY THE ENGAGED BITS OFTHE KEY, A VISUAL CHARACTER INDICATING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OFSAID PIVOTAL LEVERS, AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING SAIDCHARACTER INDICATING MEANS HAVING CONNECTIONS WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACEDSTATIONARY CONTACTS, A CIRCUIT COMPLETING CONTACT WIPER CARRIED BY EACHOF SAID LEVERS AND ENGAGING SAID CONTACTS ONE AT A TIME AS DETERMINED BYTHE BITS OF A KEY ENGAGED BY SAID FEELERS, AND A CIRCUIT CONTROLLINGMEANS FOR RENDERING SAID CHARACTER INDICATING MEANS OPERATIVE ONLY WHENA KEY IS FULLY PROJECTED INTO THE KEY ACCOMMODATING SLOT OF SAID BASE.